By CHARLES IWUOHA

Hundreds of air travelers who hail from different parts of the Southern region of the country have flooded the Chuba Okadigbo international Airport, Onueke, to airlift to Lagos.

News Express visited the airport on Wednesday morning at Onueke, in Ezza South Local Government Area of the state, and gathered that commercial flight operations have fully started, as the United Nigeria Airlines flights from Lagos were seen landing safely at the airport without hitches.

It was also gathered that airport taxis in their numbers, were seen parked in strategic places, waiting to convey travellers who boarded United Nigeria Airlines flights from Lagos to Ebonyi State, to their various destinations.

Some of the passengers who spoke to News Express at the airport, said there were no hitches in their takeoff and landing at the Chuba Okadigbo International Airport, Onueke, describing the runway as the best in the country.

A passenger, Richard Idike, who is the Commissioner for Youths and Sports in the state, said: "The commercial flight operations just started in the Chuba Okadigbo Airport, Onueke. We boarded a United Nigeria Airline flight from Lagos to Onueke, and there were no hitches at all. The take-off and the landing were very smooth.

"I encourage Nigerians, especially those in the Southern part of the country, Ebonyi indigenes in particular, to know that the Chuba Okadigbo Airport has fully started flight operations, and should pick their tickets and fly through this place.”

Speaking on the quality of the Chuba Okadigbo Airport runway, he said: “The runway is the best in the country. I have traveled through other airports, but this one is the best among the rest. It has been certified before now by regulatory agencies.”

Many other passengers were seen moving out their luggage, while those boarding United Nigeria Airline back to Lagos were seen on queue.

The Commissioner for Aviation and Transport Technology, Mrs. Ngozi Obichukwu, said that there is no going back on the commercial flight operations at the Chuba Okadigbo International Airport, Onueke, Ezza South LGA.

She urged travellers to book their flight tickets through the ministry of Aviation, and however, called on them to always keep to time to avoid missing their scheduled flight.